Like the rest of the UK, my house is getting ready for those cold nights and dark mornings. There is nothing I like more than enjoying some quality time with my kids inside a cosy home. Throws over sofas, candles lit and a steaming hot chocolate. We’ve well and truly got our ‘Hygge on’.

It was therefore a surprise when I heard Hygge is out and Gezellig is in. Over the last couple of months, I’ve been hearing that Hygge (a Danish word used to mean the quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality) is being replaced with Gezellig (a Dutch word used to mean a sense of belonging, time spent with loved ones, cosy and fun). Hmmm, so what exactly is the difference and how do we adopt it for our interiors?

We all know that Hygge has been a huge marketing success with books such as The Little Book Of Hygge by Meik Wiking and the brilliant website hyggehouse.com by Alex Beauchamp that have allowed us Brits to successfully adopt this charming Danish tradition and way of life. Candles, soft furnishings, cosy corner nooks and window seats for reading and relaxing with a hot drink were thoughtfully installed in our houses so that we could fully appreciate and enjoy the Hygge way of life. How, therefore does Gezellig change this? Well, it appears to me that it doesn’t. Hygee or Gezellig, isn’t a single object you can buy and isn’t a ‘thing’, it’s simply a behaviour that we’ve happily adopted because it makes us feel good, and I believe our homes and the way we decorate and furnish them play a huge part of making this feeling happen. Brands such a Fired Earth, Neptune, Farrow and Ball have created and curated one of pieces or large collections that epitomise the Dutch and Danish lifestyle. Gone are the rigid traditions, sharp lines and formality and hello to luxurious throws, natural colour palettes and pure materials.

House Beautiful

Fired Earth

Farrow & Ball

These Dutch and Danish traditions have made us re-evaluate our lives and given us guidance on how our homes are a sanctuary of security and reassurance, therefore whether it’s a Hygge or a Gezellig, it’s that time of year when we need to embrace the long, cold nights and get cosy with our loved ones.